Wilson Center Becomes First Think Tank to Receive Global Gender Equality Certification
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC is the first think tank to be awarded the worldwide Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) Certificate, recognizing its global commitments and actions in achieving and sustaining gender diversity and equality in the workplace.
Wilson Center Leads the Way for Commitment and Achievements in Gender Equality
Geneva, Switzerland/Washington, DC September 28, 2016 – The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC is the first think tank to be awarded the worldwide Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) Certificate, recognizing its global commitments and actions in achieving and sustaining gender diversity and equality in the workplace.
The EDGE Certification is the premier standard and methodology for evaluating a corporate commitment to gender equality. The EDGE assessment methodology is distinguished by its rigor and business impact.
The EDGE Certification attests to the Wilson Center’s commitment to gender parity both programmatically and as an institution. Equality of opportunity and ideas is a key part of the Center’s commitment to actionable ideas. Gender parity is essential to global leadership and solving global problems.
“This is a first I am really savoring” said the Honorable Jane Harman, first female Director, President and CEO of The Wilson Center. “Women reflect more than half of the talent pool and it is great to showcase the microcosm here.”
One of the Center’s leading programs, the Women in Public Service Project (WPSP) represents the Center’s programmatic commitment to gender equality. The program’s goal is to accelerate global progress towards women’s equal participation in policy and political leadership to create more dynamic and inclusive institutions that leverage the full potential of the world’s population.
By promoting institutional transparency, disseminating knowledge and enabling rising women leaders, WPSP aims to improve women’s political participation and leadership to ensure that by 2050, 50% of leadership positions are held by women.
“The EDGE Certification falls within the WPSP goal of gender parity in public institutions and our vision of institutions that reflect the diversity of society,” said Gwen Young, Director of the Center’s Global Women's Leadership Initiative and the Women in Public Service Project.
“By becoming EDGE Certified, the Wilson Center demonstrates a perfect alignment between its internal actions and external commitments to make gender equality a key driver of organizational success and sustainable development.” said Aniela Unguresan, Co-Founder, EDGE Certified Foundation.
About The Wilson Center
The Wilson Center provides a strictly nonpartisan space for the worlds of policymaking and scholarship to interact. By conducting relevant and timely research and promoting dialogue from all perspectives, it works to address the critical current and emerging challenges confronting the United States and the world. For more information, visit www.wilsoncenter.org or follow us on Twitter @TheWilsonCenter.
About EDGE Certification
EDGE is the leading global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality. EDGE Certification has been designed to help companies not only create an optimal workplace for women and men, but also benefit from it.
EDGE stands for Economic Dividends for Gender Equality and is distinguished by its rigor and focus on business impact. The methodology uses a business, rather than theoretical approach that incorporates benchmarking, metrics and accountability into the process. It assesses policies, practices and numbers across five different areas of analysis: equal pay for equivalent work, recruitment and promotion, leadership development training and mentoring, flexible working and company culture.
EDGE is currently working with more than 150 organizations, in over 40 countries and 22 industries.
The EDGE assessment methodology was developed by the EDGE Certified Foundation and launched at the World Economic Forum in 2011.
For more information, visit www.edge-cert.org or follow us on Twitter @EDGE_CERT
Media Contacts
The Wilson Center
Ryan McKenna
Media Relations Manager
+1 (0)202-691-4217
Ryan.mckenna@wilsoncenter.org
EDGE Strategy
Lucy Jay-Kennedy
Communications Director
+41 (0)41 530 11 49
Lucy.JayKennedy@edge-strategy.com
